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Budget continues focus on job creation and economic growth

State Budget builds on early success of McGowan Government's Plan for Jobs

The WA economy is strengthening, creating more jobs for Western Australians

Major commitments in roads, school and hospital infrastructure and tourism initiatives

Record $4.1 billion investment in job-creating METRONET projects

Changes to Keystart to boost construction industry and create hundreds of jobs

The 2019-20 State Budget continues the McGowan Government's commitment to get Western Australia back on track by diversifying the State's economy and creating new jobs for Western Australians.

More than 37,000 Western Australian jobs have been created since the 2017 State Election. The State Budget builds on that progress with a number of new job-creating initiatives, significant investment in schools and hospitals, and record funding for METRONET.

The McGowan Government's changes to Keystart's first home buyers scheme will result in the construction of hundreds of new homes, delivering a boost to the local construction industry and generating new WA jobs.

The State Budget includes a record $4.1 billion investment in job-creating, congestion-busting METRONET projects including the Yanchep Rail Extension, the Thornlie-Cockburn Link, the Morley-Ellenbrook Line and the removal of dangerous level crossings.

The McGowan Government's Two-Year Action Plan for tourism is working, with the latest figures showing the highest international and interstate visitor numbers on record.

The State Budget includes a number of initiatives to build on this positive start to continue to create jobs and support WA's economy, including:

$12 million in new funding for international destination marketing;

$10 million for international aviation development to secure more direct flights to Perth;

$4.5 million to implement the StudyPerth International Education Plan;

More than $22 million for the creation and ongoing management of national parks, marine parks and conservation reserves;

$10 million for Collie Adventure Trails to turn Collie into WA's premier adventure trail town, as part of the Industry Attraction and Development Fund; and

$3.6 million for Aboriginal tourism initiatives.

The State Government is undertaking a record program of building new roads and upgrading the State's most congested and dangerous roads across our State through a $4.2 billion investment.

The Budget includes a major increase in funding for roads and job-creating infrastructure across WA, including:

$852 million for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road;

$175 million for the Albany Ring Road;

$310 million for the ongoing construction of Karratha-Tom Price Road;

$87.5 million to upgrade Great Northern Highway from Broome to Kununurra;

$40 million for Coolgardie-Esperance Highway upgrades;

$27.5 million for Stage One Pinjarra Heavy Haulage Deviation;

$275 million for Great Northern Highway - Bindoon Bypass;

$87.5 million for Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Routes upgrades;

$10 million for the new LNG Futures Facility;

$48 million to upgrade port facilities across WA; and

An additional $19.5 million for the Forrestdale Business Park.

In addition, the Budget includes significant upgrades to schools and hospitals including $50 million for a major upgrade of Balcatta Senior High School; $19.3 million to redevelop Broome Senior High School; a total of $161 million to redevelop Joondalup Health Campus; and $11 million towards the redevelopment of Bunbury Hospital.

The successful passage of the McGowan Government's Jobs Law in 2018 means that opportunities for local workers and businesses will be maximised on projects included in the Budget, creating more jobs for Western Australians.

The McGowan Government is committed to diversifying Western Australia's economy and creating local jobs across a range of industries. Additional job-creating projects funded in the State Budget include:

$52 million towards the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund;

$131.5 million additional expenditure to support agriculture in WA, grow export markets and create long-term jobs, including $39.6 million for the Boosting Biosecurity Defences, Asian Market Success and Grains Research and Development support programs (in addition to the $45 million for Grains Research and Development in the 2018-19 Budget);

$182.4 million for a new Employer Incentive Scheme and training delivery, including $45 million for regional WA. The scheme will help WA employers with the costs of employing apprentices and trainees;

$7 million to build and operate a state-of-the-art marine finfish nursery facility in Geraldton; and

$60.1 million for the Collie Industry Attraction and Development Fund, including $8 million for a new DFES multipurpose bushfire facility in Collie.

"Our Plan for Jobs is working, with more than 37,000 Western Australians finding work since the last election - that's compared to no new jobs over the second term of the previous government.

"While the signs are encouraging, my Government is determined to continue this work and creating jobs for Western Australians remains my number one priority.

"The State Budget has a big focus on growing the economy and creating jobs across a range of industries.

"It includes important targeted spending in key areas to help diversify our economy and set up our State for the long term, including a significant investment in our schools, hospitals, police force and tourism industry.

"Our record investment in METRONET will create thousands of jobs for Western Australians, with a number of priority projects getting underway later this year.

"The WA economy is continuing to grow as new jobs are created, despite global and national pressures.

"Thanks to our disciplined and responsible financial management, we can invest in job-creating projects across the State and continue working hard to get Western Australia back on track."